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United Fire Misses Q3 Earnings, Tops Revs

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United Fire Group Inc. reported third-quarter 2013 operating net income of 42 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents significantly by 22.2%. However, the results exceeded the year-ago quarter earnings by 35.5%.

Including after-tax net realized investment gains of 3 cents per share, United Fire reported net income of 45 cents per share, up approximately 32.3% year over year.

United Fire’s bottom-line growth in the reported quarter came on the back of higher net written premiums owing to increasing rates in its commercial lines of business.

Quarterly Operational Update

Total revenues of United Fire increased 7.9% year over year to $223 million, driven mainly by an improvement in net premiums earned (up 10%). Total revenues also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $218 million by 2.3%.

United Fire’s net investment income of $27.3 million declined 4.8% year over year.

Total benefits, losses and expenses in the quarter increased 6.1% year over year to $208.6 million. The increase was induced by higher loss and loss settlement expenses, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses.

Property and Casualty: Net premium written for this segment soared 14.7% year over year to $178.3 million in the reported quarter.

Total revenues amounted to $191.2 million in the reported quarter increasing 10.2% year over year on the back of higher net earned premiums and net investment income.

Net income of $10.3 million, up 35.5% from net income of $7.6 million reported in the comparable prior-year period.

Life Insurance: Net premiums written in the segment were $15.7 million, up 2.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Total revenues declined 3.9% year over year to $31.8 million in the reported quarter due to lower net investment income.

Net income of $1.4 million registered an increase of 27.3% year over year.

Dividend Update

In the third quarter, United Fire paid dividend of 18 cents per share to shareholders of record as of Sep 3, 2013.

Financial Position

As of Sep 30, 2013, United Fire had cash and cash investments of $3.12 billion, down 0.9% from $3.15 billion as of Dec 31, 2012.

United Fire exited the reported quarter with total assets of $3.72 billion, declining 0.8% from the 2012 year-end level.

Shareholders’ equity as of Sep 30, 2013 was $744.2 million, up 2.1% from $729.2 million as of Dec 31, 2012.

Performances of Other Property and Casualty Insurers

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (AWH - Snapshot Report) reported its third-quarter 2013 operating net income of $2.93 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 37.5% and the prior-year figure by 35.6%.

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. (AHL - Snapshot Report) reported third-quarter 2013 operating net income of $1.05 per share, which substantially surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents by 31.2%. However, the results lagged the year-ago quarter number by 21.6%.

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